सर्वाभरणशोभाढ्यैः प्रशोभंते नरेश्वर । हारकंकणकेयूरमालाभिस्तु सुचंदनैः
Adorned with all kinds of splendid ornaments, O king, they shine with necklaces, bracelets, armlets, and garlands, all beautifully scented with sandalwood.
दिव्यचंदनदिग्धानि सुरभीणि गुरूणि च । कमंडलुकराण्येव आयातानि सभांतरे
Anointed with divine sandalwood, fragrant and heavy, they appear within the assembly holding water pots in their hands.
गंगा च नर्मदा पुण्या चंद्रभागा सरस्वती । देविका बिंबिका कुब्जा कुंजला मंजुला श्रुता
The Ganga, Narmada, the sacred Chandrabhaga, Sarasvati, Devika, Bimbika, Kubja, Kunjala, Manjula, and Shruta—
रंभा भानुमती पुण्या पारा चैव सुघर्घरा । शोणा च सिंधुसौवीरा कावेरी कपिला तथा
Rambha, the radiant Bhanumati, the sacred Para, Sugharghara, Shona, Sindhu-Sauvira, Kaveri, and Kapila as well—
कुमुदा वेदनदी पुण्या सुपुण्या च महेश्वरी । चर्मण्वती तथा ख्याता लोपा चान्या सुकौशिकी
Kumuda, the sacred Vedanadi, the most holy Maheshvari, the renowned Carmanvati, Lopa, and the excellent Kausiki—
सुहंसी हंसपादा च हंसवेगा मनोरथा । सुरुथास्वारुणा वेणा भद्र वेणा सुपद्मिनी
Suhamsi, Hansapada, Hansavega, Manoratha, Surutha, Svaruna, Vena, Bhadra Vena, and Supadmini—
नाहलीसुमरी चान्या पुण्या चान्या पुलिंदिका । हेमा मनोरथा दिव्या चंद्रिका वेदसंक्रमा
Nahali, Sumari, the sacred Pulindika, Hema, Manoratha, the divine Chandrika, and Veda-Sankrama—
ज्वालाहुताशनी स्वाहा काला चैव कपिंजला । स्वधा च सुकला लिंगा गंभीरा भीमवाहिनी
Jvala, Hutashani, Svaha, Kala, Kapinjala, Svadha, Sukala, Linga, Gambhira, and Bhimavahini—
देवद्रीची वीरवाहा लक्षहोमा अघापहा । पाराशरी हेमगर्भा सुभद्रा वसुपुत्रिका
Devadrici, Viravaha, Lakshahoma, Aghapaha, Parashari, Hemagarbha, Subhadra, and Vasuputrika—
एता नद्यो महापुण्या मूर्तिमत्यो नरेश्वर । सर्वाभरणशोभाढ्याः कुंभहस्ताः सुपूजिताः
These rivers, O king, are supremely holy and embodied; adorned with all ornaments, holding water pots, they are greatly honored.
प्रयागः पुष्करश्चैव अर्घदीर्घो मनोरथा । वाराणसी महापुण्या ब्रह्महत्या व्यपोहिनी
Prayaga, Pushkara, Arghadirgha, Manoratha, Varanasi—the supremely holy, remover of the sin of killing a Brahmin—
द्वारावती प्रभासश्च अवंती नैमिषस्तथा । चंडकश्च महारत्नो महेश्वरकलेश्वरौ
Dvaravati, Prabhasa, Avanti, Naimisha, Chandaka—the great jewel—Maheshvara and Kaleshvara—
कलिंजरो ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं माथुरो मानवाहकः । मायाकांती तथान्यानि दिव्यानि विविधानि च
Kalinjara, Brahmaksetra, Mathura, Manavahaka, Mayakanti, and other divine and various places—
अष्टषष्टिः सुतीर्थानि नदीनां शतकोटयः । गोदावरीमुखाः सर्वा समायातास्तदाज्ञया
Sixty-eight holy tirthas and hundreds of crores of rivers, all with mouths at the Godavari, have assembled by that command.
द्वीपानां तु समस्तानि सुतीर्थानि महांति च । मूर्तिलिंगधराण्येव सहस्राक्षं सुरेश्वरम्
All the islands and their great holy tirthas, bearing embodied forms and lingas, have come to the thousand-eyed lord of the gods.
समाजग्मुः समस्तानि तदादेशकराणि च । प्रणेमुर्देवदेवेशं नतशीर्षाणि सर्वशः
All these have gathered, acting according to that command; they bowed to the lord of gods, all with their heads lowered.
सूत उवाच- तैः प्रोक्तं तु महातीर्थैर्देवराजं यशस्विनम् । कस्मात्त्वया समाहूता देवदेव वदस्व नः
Sūta said: Then those great tīrthas addressed the illustrious king of the gods, saying, 'O god of gods, tell us, for what reason have you summoned us?'
ब्रूहि नः कारणं सर्वं नमस्तुभ्यं सुराधिप । एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं देवराजोभ्यभाषत
Tell us the entire reason, O lord of the gods; we bow to you. Thus, having heard those words, the king of the gods spoke.
कः समर्थो महातीर्थो ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहितुम् । गोवधाख्यं महापापं स्त्रीवधाख्यमनुत्तमम्
Who among the great tīrthas is capable of removing the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa, the great sin called cow-slaughter, and the supreme sin called woman-slaughter?
स्वामिद्रोहाच्च संभूतं सुरापानाच्च दारुणम् । हेमस्तेयात्तथा जातं गुरुनिंदा समुद्भवम्
Who can destroy the terrible sin arising from betrayal of one's master, from drinking liquor, from stealing gold, and from reviling one's teacher?
भ्रूणहत्यां महाघोरां नाशयेत्कः समर्थवान् । राजद्रोहान्महापापं बहुपीडाप्रदायकम्
Who is able to destroy the dreadful sin of killing a fetus, the great and terrible sin, and the great sin of treason against the king, which brings much suffering?
मित्रद्रोहात्तथा चान्यदन्यद्विश्वासघातकम् । देवभेदं तथा चान्यं लिंगभेदमतः परम्
And also the sin arising from betraying a friend, and other acts that breach trust, as well as the sin of causing division among the gods, and further, the sin of violating the liṅga.
वृत्तिच्छेदं च विप्राणां गोप्रचारप्रणाशनम् । आगारदहनं चान्यद्गृहदीपनकं तथा
The cutting off of a brāhmaṇa's livelihood, the destruction of cow-pastures, the burning of a house, and the act of setting fire to a home-lamp—
षोडशैते महापापा अगम्यागमनं तथा । स्वामित्यागात्समुद्भूतं रणस्थानात्पलायनात्
These sixteen great sins, and also intercourse with the forbidden, abandonment of one's master, and fleeing from the battlefield—
एतानि नाशयेत्को वै समर्थस्तीर्थउत्तमः । समर्थो भवतां मध्ये प्रायश्चित्तं विना ध्रुवम्
Which among you, O best tīrthas, is able to destroy these? Surely, among you, who is capable, without expiatory rites?
पश्यतां देवतानां च नारदस्य च पश्यतः । ब्रुवंतु सर्वे संचिंत्य विचार्यैवं सुनिश्चितम्
In the presence of the gods and as Nārada looked on, let all consider and decide, and then speak with certainty.
एवमुक्ते शुभे वाक्ये देवराज्ञामहात्मना । संमंत्र्य तीर्थराजेन प्रोचुः शक्रं सभागतम्
When these auspicious words were spoken by the great-souled king of the gods, after conferring with the king of tīrthas, they addressed Śakra, who was present.
तीर्थान्यूचुः - श्रूयतामभिधास्यामो देवराज नमोस्तु ते । संति वै सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वपापहराणि च
The tīrthas said: 'Listen, O king of the gods, we bow to you. All the tīrthas indeed exist, and they remove all sins.'
ब्रह्महत्यादिकान्यांश्च त्वया प्रोक्तान्सुरेश्वर । महाघोरान्सुदीप्तांश्च नाशितुं नैव शक्नुमः
O lord of the gods, the terrible and blazing sins beginning with brāhmaṇa-killing that you have mentioned—we are not able to destroy them.
प्रयागः पुष्करश्चैव अर्घतीर्थमनुत्तमम् । वाराणसी महाभाग समर्था पापनाशिनी
Prayāga, Puṣkara, the supreme Argha-tīrtha, and Vārāṇasī, O highly fortunate one, are capable of destroying sins.